diff --git a/homeassistant/util/template.py b/homeassistant/util/template.py
index ad0fabdab53..f8fa2c70f8b 100644
--- a/homeassistant/util/template.py
+++ b/homeassistant/util/template.py
@@ -41,8 +41,9 @@ def render(hass, template, variables=None, **kwargs):
 
     try:
         return ENV.from_string(template, {
-            'states': AllStates(hass)
-        }).render(kwargs)
+            'states': AllStates(hass),
+            'is_state': hass.states.is_state
+        }).render(kwargs).strip()
     except jinja2.TemplateError as err:
         raise TemplateError(err)
 
diff --git a/tests/util/test_template.py b/tests/util/test_template.py
index ba354f3e7be..1e34d999fa7 100644
--- a/tests/util/test_template.py
+++ b/tests/util/test_template.py
@@ -100,3 +100,11 @@ class TestUtilTemplate(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_raise_exception_on_error(self):
         with self.assertRaises(TemplateError):
             template.render(self.hass, '{{ invalid_syntax')
+
+    def test_is_state(self):
+        self.hass.states.set('test.object', 'available')
+        self.assertEqual(
+            'yes',
+            template.render(
+                self.hass,
+                '{% if is_state("test.object", "available") %}yes{% else %}no{% endif %}'))